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Fresh out of school, having a hard time.

So I'm not really sure if this is the place to be asking these questions but I figure this is a nice place to start.

I'm fresh out of school, acquired my G2 and Oil 3 Certs (I'm a Canadian citizen, Ontario to be exact) And I'm having a bit of trouble compiling a resume (Mostly due to lack of experience in the work force) I literally have 0 work experience in this trade (Outside of school itself) and filling out a full resume is proving to be a big problem. I don't want to show up to an interview with a resume half empty that just says "Have certificates, but 0 Experience. Need a job". I'm 21 (I took 1.5 years of another course, but decided it was not what I wanted to have a career in and decided to look into the HVAC business)

If anyone has some advice on this matter it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I am also from Ontario and I second time Builders saying. Go to a Resume workshop and get a proffesinal Resume it makes a Big diffrence.
What college did you go to?
I would also say to you to get your ODP card and any other training and certs you can. Start small and be willing to learn and don't be money hungry and you will go far. You will know when it is time to ask for the Big $ and your own truck. Just don't be a know it all cause you got a G2 Trust me the college if it was half decent only taught you 15% of the trade and if it was Highmark u learned 2% of the trade and how to pass the TSSA Exam LOL
Good Luck and never stop learning

Ill bet there is someone at your school who helps with resume writing for graduates in your situation.

Originally Posted by OldSchoolMech

I am also from Ontario and I second time Builders saying. Go to a Resume workshop and get a proffesinal Resume it makes a Big diffrence.
What college did you go to?
I would also say to you to get your ODP card and any other training and certs you can. Start small and be willing to learn and don't be money hungry and you will go far. You will know when it is time to ask for the Big $ and your own truck. Just don't be a know it all cause you got a G2 Trust me the college if it was half decent only taught you 15% of the trade and if it was Highmark u learned 2% of the trade and how to pass the TSSA Exam LOL
Good Luck and never stop learning

Thanks for the replies guys, and yes I called the school this morning and they have some people dedicated to helping students make up resumes.

I just graduated from Mohawk College in Stoney Creek, and thanks for the advice. Appreciated guys.

I completely agree with old school mech. I put what school i went to, what i did in my labs and other credentials in bullet form and it seemed to work for me. But sometimes you just gotta get lucky. I finished my first year at George Brown College and got hired as a helper for $13/hr. Aim for anything to get your foot in the door. A lot of guys want $17/hsoot similar, right away. Pay your dues and stay coachable.

i think its a bit late now but i have a few companies that might be interested in hiring good workers.
here are a list of good quality companies you can get your feet wet. I expect companies will hire sometime in august but you might find one now. To be ahead of the game learn how to wire up a basic furnace from scratch and learn how to read ladder/schematic diagrams for furnaces/rooftop units or anything you can get your hands on

1. Direct energy Will teach you the code really fast and will train you well.
2.A1 or aire one different company both are good companies (always busy)
3.Companies having climate care in ther name keep you busy and teach you well.

Try this site www.apprenticesearch.com sign up and look daily they have companies all the time trying to find good hard workers.

* IF you are eager and you have a car. i would get to know the hvac/r suppliers and see any job postings *wwg (total line) Eastern Refrigeration Masters United refrigeration Benn supplies Tempco not sure if any of these suppliers are near your area but its worth a shot.

I use to go to suppliers and wait in the morning and see what trucks pop in and if they seem to be good i would approach them and ask them.
People that work at the suppliers can really help you out.
Or you can go and apply to be apart of the union UA 787

Get er Done!

Do what has to be done
when it has to be done
as well as it has to be done
And doing it all the time.

Do you know any good books or websites to do labs. I'm going to intermediate next month, and I would like to prepare myself. I've been working in the construction side of the trade and not been able to get a variety of experience under my belt. I have zero service experience so far, and I really want to broden my experience so far.

your teachers at school should have some old contacts. or ask where are the supply houses are and posted some resume on the bulletin board. or hit the phone book and go to each and every single company around the are you willing to work for. forget ua787. lots of the brothers are laid off... (so I was told) you could get union wage ( or just slightly under) from normal shop. you just gotta be really good at it. commercial/industrial is same beast different fleas. just a bragging right.

if you got called for ride along/probation, be wiling to get dirty and DON"T stand around. hold the guy's ladder or something. unless you clearly don't know what to do, ask. I could tell whether my greenhorn is wiling to get dirty or work or could think for himself and understand the job scope. I got guys that I need to tell what to do every single time. sure you're the helper/new, but take initiative. ask what we gotta do, and prep for it. don't cross your arm or yawn excessively. stop texting. your lead hand could text, you can't. fact of life. get a hair cut. your lead hand could have shaggy hair, you can't.... lol. oh and if you're being nice and bringing his tools on and off/using his, put it back the way you find it. some don't care, some like me like to have their tools at certain position, laid out in certain way. DON"T change it. same goes with ladders.

I would say otherwise about aire one... pfff.... we picked up customers from the installs that they walked off. I'm sure not all of them are bad. (are they franchise?) . moving and selling hot/cold box is fine, but if you can't figured out why and how that thing doesn't work then walking off from your customer is a no no. same with ultra comfort. lets not bash them, each company has their own weakness.

some thing something climatecare is usually good. some do commercial and industrial also. you could try to win the flat screen tv now in the tech competition.

Have tools and gauges, will travel.
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